Much ado about Rivers' war on COVID-19 - The Nation Nigeria News

The Rivers State government’s style of combating the Coronavirus pandemic is unique to the state. For supporters of the government, the style is fantastic but to critics, it is dictatorial

, writessoup, went viral on Monday. The governor, who wore a kitchen apron, was seen vigorously turning the soup and at the same time chatting with some persons, who maintained a reasonable distance.

The governor mowed down the Prodest Hotel, Alode, Eleme and Edemeteh Hotel, Onne. Bulldozers pulverised the facilities. Wike struck again. His COVID-19 Taskforce impounded a bus-load of Exxon Mobil workers accusing them of entering into the state despite the governor’s order closing Rivers borders and without following the necessary protocol. They were sent to the state Isolation Centre but were later set free following some interventions.

Though some of his decisions in fighting the invisible virus have been controversial, the pulling down of two hotels generated outrage from members of the public. The hotel was said to have provided safe haven for criminals. Most pressing was the allegation that the owner of the hotel hired thugs to attack the Taskforce on COVID-19, which was there to enforce the governor’s directive.

Wike in a statewide broadcast insisted that the demolition of the two hotels in Eleme was done in line with extant laws explaining that the thugs severely injured some members of the task force. But the owner of the hotel faulted the position of the government. Promise Gogorodari, the Prodest Hotel owner, said he did nothing wrong lamenting that he erected the hotel to provide jobs for people.

A lawyer, Somina Johnbull, said Wike acted against the elementary principles of land acquisition saying the governor failed to follow the procedures outlined by the law. “Governor Wike should listen to the words of Thomas Fuller echoing down the hallway of history, 300 years ago, ‘be you never so high, the law is above you’.

The Executive Order being used by some governors derive power from this Act and there is no part of the Act that prescribes such penalties as the ones which Governor Wike is meting out on the same people he vowed to protect their lives and properties. But others rose to defend Wike and asked aggrieved persons to approach the court for redress. Former President of the Nigeria Bar Association , Chief Onueze Okocha defended the actions of Wike saying they were appropriate.

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